About
The character 恕, with its traditional form identical to its simplified counterpart, is structurally composed of the components 如 (meaning "like" or "as") placed above 心 (heart or mind), a formation that transparently conveys its core conceptual meaning of "treating another's heart as if it were one's own". This etymology directly informs its primary definition, which is one of empathetic consideration and forbearance, often translated as "forgiveness" or "reciprocity". Its philosophical significance was firmly established in the Analects of Confucius, where it was defined as a central virtue and formulated in the negative golden rule: "do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire". Over centuries, while its application expanded into broader contexts of tolerance and leniency within social and legal discourse, this foundational sense of understanding and sympathetic consideration for others has remained the enduring essence of the character's meaning.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我宽恕你的错误。
恕我不能同意你的观点。
他请求宽恕自己的罪过。
如果你诚心道歉，我会恕你。
宽恕他人是一种美德。
尽管他伤害了我，但我还是选择恕他。
在某些文化中，恕的概念与正义紧密相连。
唯有透过深刻的自我反省，才能真正做到恕己恕人。